California Biographies
Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)
History By Paul E. Vandor
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
JES HANSEN. � Denmark has given to the United States many of her
best citizens, men who have become very successful and influential in the
various localities in which they have settled. California has received her
share of these thrifty men and they have adapted themselves to their new
surroundings and greatly aided in the upbuilding of the horticultural, viti-
cultural and agricultural interests of Fresno County.
Jes Hansen, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Slesvig, Denmark,
born February 5, 1853, a son of Nis Hansen, who, when last heard from, is
still living in Denmark, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. The
mother of Jes Hansen was, in maidenhood, Karen Jacobsen and she was the
mother of three children, Jes being the only son and the oldest child. He was
reared on a farm in Denmark and attended the public schools of his native
country. Determined to get away from the Prussian military oppression to
which his native province was subjected after the war of 1864, Jes went to
Denmark in 1870, remaining there until 1875 when he migrated to America,
landing at New York City, from which place he continued his journey by
vessel to Panama. After crossing the Isthmus he sailed to San Francisco
where he landed July 8, 1875. He secured employment on Sherman Island
where he worked on a farm until January 1, 1876. He next engaged in the
fishing business, with partners, and they fished for salmon in the Sacramento
River for eight months of the year, during the salmon season, and in the
summertime Jes was employed in ranch work. This work he followed for
four years and was quite successful in his enterprise.
In 1878 he purchased twenty acres in Washington Colony, Fresno
County, and in November, 1879, located upon his ranch. With his charac-
teristic enterprise Jes began to improve his place by planting an orchard,
vineyard and alfalfa. He remained on this place until 1888 when he rented
it and went to the west side of the county where he homesteaded 160 acres
three miles east of Huron. Jes Hansen improved this ranch, secured his
deed for the place and followed farming there until 1893. Afterwards he
removed to San Luis Obispo County where he engaged in grain farming
east of Creston, but dry years, with their natural sequence, poor crops, pre-
cluded his making a success in that undertaking, so he moved in 1898 to
a place near to Paso Robles, on the Huero Huero where he leased land,
followed farming, ran a combined harvester and in this way succeeded in
getting another start. Jes Hansen then began to think of his prosperous
days in Fresno County and longed to return there which he did in 1904,
when he purchased twenty acres of his present ranch, which at that time
was raw land. He soon improved the land and planted vines and trees, later
purchasing twenty acres adjoining and today his highly cultivated ranch of
forty acres on Pierce Avenue includes fifteen acres in peaches, a vineyard
of twenty acres and five acres of alfalfa.
In 1883, Jes Hansen was united in marriage with Mary Mortensen, a
native of Jylland, Denmark; the ceremony being solemnized in the Wash-
ington Colony, Fresno County. This union has been blessed with six chil-
dren: John, is a farmer in the Roosevelt district; Mary, is now the wife of
Kelly Cole, who is in active service in the United States Navy, stationed
in South American waters, while Mrs. Cole makes her home at San Pedro ;
Martin and Charles are both serving with the United States Army in France ;
Annie and Carrie are both living at San Pedro.
Religiously, Mr. Hansen is a member of the Lutheran Church and in
politics supports the Republican ticket. He is a stockholder and member of
both the California Peach Growers, Inc., and the California Associated
Raisin Company. Mr. Hansen is especially interested in advancing the edu-
cational interests of the community which he has manifested by serving as
school trustee of McKinley district, having been a member of the board
when the new school house was built. He planted the trees around the
school yard, looked after their care and to him are due the thanks of the
children and students of the district for the large trees that beautify the
grounds today.